2．1．4　Convert English Adjectives into Chinese Adve...

2．1．4　Convert English Adjectives into Chinese Adverbs，Verbs or Nouns英语形容词转换成汉语副词、动词或名词

2．1．4．1　Convert adjectives into adverbs英语形容词转换成汉语副词

Compare and study the following sentences and find the way in which the underlined English words are converted into Chinese adverbs．

This is sheer nonsense．这完全是胡说。

Below 4℃，water is in continuous expansion instead of continuous contraction．

　水在4℃以下，是在不断地膨胀，而不是不断地收缩。

Every time you meet someone in a social situation，give him your undivided attention for four minutes．

　每当你在社交场合遇到某人，专注地看他四分钟。

There is a big increase in demand for all kinds of consumer goods in every part of our country．

　目前，我国各地对各种消费品的需求量已大大增加。

I am so grateful to my father for his continuous encouragement during my childhood．

　我非常感谢父亲，因为他在我小时候总是不断地鼓励我。

Comments In translation，if an English noun is changed into a verb，then the adjective that modifies the noun is generally converted into a Chinese adverb．Let us examine the last sentence in particular．The preposition“for”introduces a prepositional phrase，which serves as an adverbial of reason in Chinese version．In this sense ，“for”means因为，and the version of“his”is他in Chinese．So the adjective“continuous”should be converted into Chinese adverb不断地．The noun“encouragement”is translated into a verb鼓励．And also the prepositional phrase “during my childhood”can be translated into a Chinese adverbial．

2．1．4．2　Convert adjectives into verbs英语形容词转换成汉语动词

Many English adjectives after a link verb indicating one＇s consciousness，feelings，emotions，desires，etc．are always converted into Chinese verbs．These words include: confident，certain，careful，cautious，angry，sure，ignorant，afraid，doubtful，aware，concerned，glad，delighted，sorry，ashamed，thankful，anxious，grateful，able，informative and so on．Look at the following examples．

Scientists are confident that all matter is indestructible．

　科学家们深信物质是不灭的。

Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life．

　医生说他们不敢肯定能否救他的命。

He said the meeting was informative．

　他说这个会议使人了解了许多事情。

The noon sun clarified the air．I became aware of two surfers well out from the shore，patiently paddling their boards while they waited for a perfect wave．

正午时分天空晴朗，我瞥见两个冲浪者离岸很远，耐心地踏着滑板，等待一个最理想的浪头。

The fact that she was able to send a message was a hint．But I had to be cautious．

　她能够给我带个信儿这件事就是个暗示。但是我必须小心谨慎。

Comments Some adjectives can often be converted into Chinese verbs after verb “be”as subject complements(predicatives表语)．Another case is when an adjective used as a predicative introduces a(that)clause，it can be converted into a verb in Chinese version．The first two sentences are good examples for this point．

2．1．4．3　Convert adjectives into nouns英语形容词转换成汉语名词

Compare and study the following sentences and find the way in which English adjectives are converted into Chinese nouns．

The rich are not always happy．

　富人未必总是幸福的。

Everyday experience shows us that heavy objects are morestable than light ones．

　日常生活经验告诉我们，重东西比轻东西的稳定性要好些。

Nylon is nearly twice as strong as natural silk．

　尼龙的强度几乎是天然丝的两倍。

The new treaty would be good for 10 years．

　这个新条约的有效期为十年。

Official Moscow is going to object the proposal．

　莫斯科官方反对此项提议。

Comments As English adjectives are converted into nouns，we should pay attention to 3 points．

1)Some adjectives with definite articles，which indicate specific groups of persons or things，are usually converted into nouns．The first sentence is a good example．

2)Some adjectives，which are used as predicatives to indicate the nature of things，or with Chinese characters期、性、度、体remaining in context in translating，can be converted into nouns．Sentences 2～4 typically show us this skill．

3)We should pay attention to the differences between English and Chinese in lexical arrangement．In English，the relationship between the modifier and recipient is flexible because English language highlights form or structure whereas Chinese language lays stress on meaning．This distinction calls for our adjudgement in translation．